2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 light

421 Practical hints
Flat tire
Keeping jack in this position, turn
crank3 clockwise until the jack base
meets the ground. Make sure the jack
is vertical (plumb line).
Continue to turn the crank until the tire
is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt
Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove.
Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.
Remove the remaining bolts.
Remove the wheel.Mounting the new wheel
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
Warning!G
Inflate spare wheel tire only after the wheel
is properly mounted.
Inflate the spare wheel tire using the
electric pump (
page 422) before lowering
the vehicle.

422 Practical hints
Flat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
Inflating the spare tire (collapsible tire)
Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 400).1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut
Open flap 1 on air pump.
Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose
with the pressure gauge 4.
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.
Screw union nut 5 onto the tire valve.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel bolts.
Warning!G
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. They are identified by the Mercedes
star. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflating the
spare wheel tire. Otherwise the rim may be dam-
aged.
Warning!G
Observe instructions on air pump label.

423 Practical hints
Flat tire
Insert electrical plug 3 into vehicle
cigarette lighter socket (
page 244)
or the power outlet in the trunk
(
page 246).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever once
without depressing the brake pedal.
PressI on the electric air pump
switch2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.
Inflate the spare tire:

SL 550 to 36 psi (2.5 bar)

SL 600, SL 55 AMG, SL 55 AMG
(Performance Package*), and
SL 65 AMG to 51 psi (3.5 bar)
This takes about 5 minutes.
Air hose4 and union nut5 can be-
come hot during inflation. Exercise
proper caution to avoid burning your-
self when using the equipment.
Press0 on the electric air pump
switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or
Press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
on the gear selector lever twice without
depressing the brake pedal.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.
If the spare tire inflation pressure is
above the recommended tire inflation
pressure for the respective collapsible
tire (
page 453), release excess spare
tire inflation pressure using the vent
screw.
!Compare the recommended tire inflation
pressure for your vehicle with the tire inflation
pressure on the yellow label located on the spare
wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the tire to
the recommended tire inflation pressure given
on the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 8 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again after it has
cooled off.


450 Technical data
Rims and tires
Same size tires
ModelSL 550SL 600
Rims (light alloy)8.5 J x 18 H28.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset1.38 in (35 mm)1.38 in (35 mm)
Winter tires1,2
1Radial-ply tires2Not available as factory equipment.
255/40 R18 95V M+S.
or
255/40 R18 95V M+S.MOExtended
3
3Must be used in conjunction with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (U.S. vehicles), Run Flat Indicator (Canada vehicles), or Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System* (Canada vehicles) only.
255/40 R18 95V M+S.
or
255/40 R18 95V M+S.MOExtended
3
ModelSL 55 AMGSL 55 AMG (Performance Package*)
SL 65 AMG
Rims (light alloy)8.5 J x 18 H28.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset1.18 in (30 mm)1.18 in (30 mm)
Winter tires1,2
1Radial-ply tires2Not available as factory equipment.
255/40 R18 95V M+S.255/35 R19 96V XL (Extra Load) M+S.

451 Technical data
Rims and tires
Mixed size tires
ModelSL 550SL 600
Front axle:
Rims (light alloy)8.5 J x 18 H28.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset1.38 in (35 mm)1.38 in (35 mm)
Summer tires1
1Radial-ply tires
255/40 R18 95W
or
255/40 R18 95Y MOExtended
2
2Must be used in conjunction with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (U.S. vehicles), Run Flat Indicator (Canada vehicles), or Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System* (Canada vehicles) only.
255/40 R18 95Y
or
255/40 R18 95Y MOExtended
2
Rear axle:
Rims (light alloy)9.5 J x 18 H29.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset1.57 in (40 mm)1.57 in (40 mm)
Summer tires1,3
3Must not be used with snow chains.
285/35 R18 97W
or
285/35 R18 97Y MOExtended
2
285/35 R18 97Y
or
285/35 R18 97Y MOExtended
2

452 Technical data
Rims and tires
ModelSL 55 AMG*
SL 550 (Sport Package*)
SL 600 (Sport Package*)SL 55 AMG
SL 55 AMG (Performance Package*)
SL 65 AMG
Front axle:
Rims (light alloy)8.5 J x 18 H28.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset1.18 in (30 mm)1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires1
1Radial-ply tires
255/40 ZR18 95Y255/35 ZR19 96Y XL (Extra Load) MO1
Rear axle:
Rims (light alloy)9.5 J x 18 H29.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset1.30 in (33 mm)1.22 in (31 mm)
Summer tires1,2
2Must not be used with snow chains.
285/35 ZR18 97Y285/30 ZR19 98Y XL (Extra Load) MO1

461 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Premium unleaded gasolineFuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:

The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research Octane Number
(RON) and the Motor Octane Number
(MON): (RON+MON)/2. This is also
known as the ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to
your health.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gasoline must
be used. If premium unleaded gasoline is not
available and low octane fuel is used, follow
these precautions:

Have the fuel tank only partially filled with
unleaded regular gasoline and fill up with
premium unleaded gasoline as soon as
possible.

Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.

Do not exceed an engine speed of 3 000 rpm
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such
as two occupants and no luggage.

Do not exceed 2/3 of maximum accelerator
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or
operating in mountainous terrain.

468 Index
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 139
Automatic locking when driving 122
Automatic shift program 177
Automatic transmission 172
Accelerator position 175
Automatic shift program 177
Emergency operation (limp-home
mode) 184
Gear ranges 176
Gear selector lever 32, 172
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting 179
Gear selector lever positions 174
Gear shifting malfunctions 184
Kickdown 175
Kickdown, manual shift program
SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG 184
Manual shift program SL 55 AMG and
SL 65 AMG 182
Program mode selector
switch 32, 177Shifting procedure 173
Starting the engine 53
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* 180
Transmission fluid level 287
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATF
B
Backrest
Lumbar support 125
Multicontour seat* 125
Power seat 45
Shoulder region support 125
Backup lamp
Messages in the multifunction
display 394
Replacing bulb 410, 414
Bar 323
BAS 91
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 113
Replacing 407Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 113
Replacing 407
Batteries, Vehicle 290
Charging 430
Consumer battery 290, 427
Jump starting 432
Messages in the multifunction
display 377
Starter battery 290, 427
Bead 323
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 410
Block heater (Canada only) 328
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brake lamps 410
High mounted 410
Messages in the multifunction
display 392
Brake pads
Messages in the multifunction
display 380